U.S. patent number 5,367,725 [Application Number 08/207,270] was granted by the patent office on 1994-11-29 for playpen structure.
Invention is credited to Tsai-Lin Tsai.
United States Patent |
5,367,725 |
Tsai |
November 29, 1994 |
Playpen structure
Abstract
A playpen structure which has a fold base which has first and
second X-shaped joint/foot elements, first and second V-shaped
joint/foot elements, four long bars and four short bars. Each
X-shaped joint/foot element has a foot and first, second, third and
fourth arms radially projecting from the foot. The first and second
long bars are pivotally linked to the first and second arms of the
first X-shaped joint/foot element. The third and fourth long bars
are pivotally linked to third and fourth arms of the second
X-shaped joint/foot element. The first and second short bars are
pivotally linked to the fourth and third arms of the first X-shaped
joint/foot element. The third and fourth short bars are pivotally
linked to the second and first arms of the second X-shaped
joint/foot element. Each V-shaped joint/foot element has a foot and
first and second arms radially projecting from the foot. The first
short bar is pivotally linked to the first arm of the first
V-shaped joint/foot element. The second short bar is pivotally
linked to the first arm of the second V-shaped joint/foot element.
The third short bar is pivotally linked to the second arm of the
second V-shaped joint/foot element. The fourth short bar is
pivotally linked to the second arm of the first V-shaped joint/foot
element. Thus, there are three more feet provided in the present
invention than in prior art.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Tsai-Lin (17 Lin, Hsin
Hsing Li, Tainan City, TW) |
Family
ID: |
22769856 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/207,270 |
Filed: |
March 7, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/99.1;
5/98.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D
13/063 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47D
13/00 (20060101); A47D 13/06 (20060101); A47D
007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/99.1,98.1,98.2,98.3,115,310,282.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Saether; Flemming
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McCubbrey, Bartels & Ward
Claims
I claim:
1. A playpen structure comprising a base, a rail unit and a column
unit connected between the base and the rail unit, wherein the base
comprises:
first and second X-shaped joint/foot elements each comprising a
foot and first, second, third and fourth arms radially projecting
from the foot;
first and second V-shaped joint/foot elements each comprising a
foot and first and second arms radially projecting from the
foot;
a first long bar being pivotally linked to the first arm of the
first X-shaped joint/foot element;
a second long bars being pivotally linked to the second arm of the
first X-shaped joint/foot element;
a third long bar being pivotally linked to the third arm of the
second X-shaped joint/foot element;
a fourth long bar being pivotally linked to the fourth arm of the
second X-shaped joint/foot element;
a first short bar for pivotally connecting the fourth arm of the
first x-shaped joint/foot element with the first arm of the first
V-shaped joint/foot element;
a second short bar for pivotally connecting the third arm of the
first x-shaped joint/foot element with the first arm of the second
V-shaped joint/foot element;
a third short bar for pivotally connecting the second arm of the
second x-shaped joint/foot element with the second arm of the
second V-shaped joint/foot element;
a fourth short bar for pivotally connecting the first arm of the
second x-shaped joint/foot element with the second arm of the first
V-shaped joint/foot element.
2. A playpen structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein each arm
of each X-shaped joint/foot element is shaped as an inverted "U" in
a view taken in a longitudinal direction in order to receive a
corresponding bar.
3. A playpen structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein each arm
of each V-shaped joint/foot element is shaped as a "U" in a view
taken in a longitudinal direction in order to receive a
corresponding bar.
4. A playpen structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rail
unit comprises four foldable rails.
5. A playpen structure in accordance with claim 4 wherein each
foldable rail comprises two tubes each comprising a curved end
pivotally linked to each other by means of a joint which is a
curved metal strip.
6. A playpen structure in accordance with claim 5 comprising a
spring-biased locking device which is disposed in the curved end of
each tube of each foldable rail for retaining the curved end of
each tube of each foldable rail in position relative to the
joint.
7. A playpen structure in accordance with claim 6 wherein the
spring-biased locking comprises a curved leaf spring and two
latches transversely projecting from two ends of the curved leaf
spring whereby the latches are insertable through the curved end of
each tube of each foldable rail and are further insertable through
the joint.
8. A playpen structure in accordance with claim 6 comprising a
press element which is a curved plastic strip, and which is mounted
on the joint, and which comprises two bosses transversely
projecting from two ends, so that the latches of the spring-biased
locking device are disengaged from the joint by means of the bosses
of the press element by pressing the press element.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a playpen structure.
There have been various playpens which permit the children a degree
of movement in play but restrain them from moving out of a safe
area. Some of them employ rigid structures. Rigid playpen
structures are strong, however, they occupy large space when they
are not in use, as they are not foldable. There are some playpens
with foldable structures. A conventional foldable playpen structure
has an x-shaped base which consists of an X-shaped joint/foot
element and four bars. The joint/foot element has a foot which
supports a floor and a joint to which the four bars are pivotally
linked. Playpens with conventional foldable structures occupy small
space when they are not in use; However, as only a foot is arranged
at the middle of the base, the base might easily sink when children
play on the floor. Therefore, there is a long unfulfilled need for
a space-economic and strong playpen structure.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a
space-economic and strong playpen structure.
The primary object of the present invention is achieved by
providing a playpen structure which has a fold base which has first
and second X-shaped joint/foot elements, first and second V-shaped
joint/foot elements, four long bars and four short bars. Each
X-shaped joint/foot element has a foot and first, second, third and
fourth arms radially projecting from the foot. The first and second
long bars are pivotally linked to the first and second arms of the
first X-shaped joint/foot element. The third and fourth long bars
are pivotally linked to third and fourth arms of the second
X-shaped joint/foot element. The first and second short bars are
pivotally linked to the fourth and third arms of the first X-shaped
joint/foot element. The third and fourth short bars are pivotally
linked to the second and first arms of the second X-shaped
joint/foot element. Each V-shaped joint/foot element has a foot and
first and second arms radially projecting from the foot. The first
short bar is pivotally linked to the first arm of the first
V-shaped joint/foot element. The second short bar is pivotally
linked to the first arm of the second V-shaped joint/foot element.
The third short bar is pivotally linked to the second arm of the
second V-shaped joint/foot element. The fourth short bar is
pivotally linked to the second arm of the first V-shaped joint/foot
element. Thus, there are three more feet provided in the present
invention than in prior art. Each arm of each X-shaped joint/foot
element is shaped as an inverted " U" in a view taken in a
longitudinal direction in order to receive a bar. Each arm of each
V-shaped joint/foot element is shaped as a "U" in a view taken in a
longitudinal direction in order to receive a bar.
For a better understanding of the present invention and objects
thereof, a study of the detailed description of the embodiments
described hereinafter should be made in relation to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front-left-top isometric view of a playpen in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a front-right-bottom isometric view of the playpen shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the playpen shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a front view of the playpen shown in FIG. 1, but showing
the playpen in a folded position;
FIG. 5 is a front-left-top isometric view of a joint in accordance
with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 6--6 in FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a playpen 2 has a plastic enclosure 3 which is
supported by means of a structure 4 which has a base 5 (see FIGS. 2
and 3), a rail unit and a column unit which is connected between
the base 6 and the rail unit. The rail unit includes two short
foldable rails 7 and two long foldable rails 8. Each short foldable
rail 7 consists of a joint 9 and two tubes (not numbered) which are
pivotally joined together by means of the joint 9. Each long
foldable rail 8 consists of a joint 9 and two tubes (not numbered)
which are pivotally joined together by means of the joint 9. The
column unit includes four columns 10. Each short foldable rail 7, a
corresponding long foldable rail 8 and a corresponding column 10
are joined together by means of a joint 12. The rail unit is thus
joined together with the column unit. Further details of the joints
12 will not be given as they are well known. The joints 9 will be
further described later with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
Referring to FIG. 2, the base 6 has four joint/foot elements 14,
four long bars 16, two X-shaped joint/foot elements 18, four short
bars 20 and two V-shaped joint/foot elements 22. Each joint/foot
element 14 has a foot and an arm projecting transversely from the
foot thereof. Each column 10 is connected with the foot of a
corresponding joint/foot element 14. Each long bar 16 is pivotally
linked by means of a rivet (not numbered) to the arm of a
corresponding joint/foot element 14. Thus, the column unit is
joined together with the base 6. The joint/foot elements 14 will
not be further described as they are well known.
Each X-shaped joint/foot element 18 has a foot and first, second,
third and fourth arms radially projecting from the foot thereof.
Each arm of each X-shaped joint/foot element 18 is formed as an
inverted "U" in a view which is taken in a longitudinal direction
thereof in order to receive a long bar 16 or a short bar 20. The
first long bar 16 is pivotally linked by means of a rivet to the
first arm of the first X-shaped joint/foot element 18. The second
long bar 16 is pivotally linked by means of a rivet to the second
arm of the first X-shaped joint/foot element 18. The third long bar
16 is pivotally linked by means of a rivet to the first arm of the
second X-shaped joint/foot element 18. The fourth long bar 16 is
pivotally linked by means of a rivet to the second arm of the
second X-shaped joint/foot element 18.
Each V-shaped joint/foot element 22 has a foot and first and second
arms radially projecting from the foot thereof. Each arm of each
V-shaped joint/foot element 22 is formed as a "U" in a view which
is taken in a longitudinal direction thereof in order to receive a
long bar 16 or a short bar 20. The first short bar 20 is pivotally
linked by means of a rivet to the first arm of the first V-shaped
joint/foot element 22. The second short bar 20 is pivotally linked
by means of a rivet to the second arm of the first V-shaped
joint/foot element 22. The third short bar 20 is pivotally linked
by means of a rivet to the first arm of the second V-shaped
joint/foot element 22. The fourth short bar 20 is pivotally linked
by means of a rivet to the second arm of the second V-shaped
joint/foot element 22.
Referring to FIG. 3, the four joint/foot elements 14 together
provide four feet, and the two X-shaped joint/foot elements 18
together provide two feet, and the two V-shaped joint/foot elements
22 together provide two feet. That is, the base 6 provides eight
feet in total. A conventional foldable playpen uses a X-shaped base
which provides only five feet. The number of the feet of the
present invention is greater than the number of the feet of the
conventional playpen. The base 6 is better supported by eight feet
than the conventional X-shaped base is supported by five feet. The
positions of the joint/foot elements 18 and 22 should be determined
so in order evenly support the base 6.
Referring to FIG. 4, the base 6 can be folded so that the playpen
structure 4 can be stored easily.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each foldable rail 7 or 8 has two tubes
each with a curved end. The curved ends of the tubes of each
foldable rail 7 or 8 are pivotally linked to each other by means of
a joint 9. Each joint 9 is a curved metal strip so as to form two
side plates. The edges of the side plates of each joint 9 are
attached to each other by means of three rivets (not numbered) in
order to retain each joint 9 in its desired shape.
Each tube of each foldable rail 7 or 8 is pivotally linked to the
joint 9 by means of a rivet 42. Each side plate of each joint 9
defines two apertures 44 (only one is shown in FIG. 6).
Referring to FIG. 6, a spring-biased locking element 46 is received
in an end of each tube of a foldable rail 7 or 8 which is hollow.
The spring-biased locking element 46 consists of a curved leaf
spring 48 and two latches 50 each of which is formed at a
corresponding end of the curved leaf spring 48. The curved leaf
spring 48 is attached in the end of the tube of the foldable rail 7
or 8. The latches 50 are biased by means of the curved leaf spring
48 into two holes 52 which are defined through the end of the
foldable rail 7 or 8. The latches 50 are biased by means of the
curved leaf spring 48 further into two apertures 44. Thus, the two
tubes of each foldable rail 7 or 8 are kept from pivoting relative
to each other.
Conventionally, the latches 50 are disengaged from the apertures 44
directly by means of users' fingers in order to fold each foldable
rail 7 or 8. However, it is dangerous for users to put their
fingers in the apertures 44. Such a danger is obviated by providing
a press element 54 which will be described later.
The press element 54 is made from plastic. The press element 54 is
a curved plastic strip which is mounted on the joint 9. The press
element 54 is attached to the joint 9 by means of a rivet 56. Two
bosses 58 each transversely project from a corresponding end of
each press element 54 toward each other. The bosses 58 align with
the apertures 44. Thus, the latches 50 can be disengaged by means
of the bosses 58 from the apertures 44 by pressing the ends of the
press element 54.
While the present invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that variations
thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading
this specification. Therefore, the present invention is intended to
cover all such variations as shall fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *